Wrench.



No. 741,155. PATENTED 001'. 13, 1903.

J. J. A. MILLER.

WRENCH.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 14, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented October 13, 1903.

JOHN J. A. MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

- WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 741,155, dated October 13, 1 903. Application filed March 14, 1903. Serial No. 147,785. (No model.) 7

To aZZ whom it may concerns Be it known that I, J OHN J. A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a cam-gripping sliding-jaw wrench which is suitable for nuts, pipes, and rods; second, to provide a wrench having an automatically-gripping sliding jaw, and, third, to provide a wrench that is strong, simple, cheaply constructed, and quickly adjusted. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Wrench embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the wrench, partly in section, showing the slidingjaw provided with a single locking-cam. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the sliding jaw provided with'a pair of locking-cams arranged at diametrically opposite sides thereof. Fig. 4 isalso a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing a spring for holding the locking-cam normally in a locked position. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6is a sectional view showinga spring attached to the locking-cam in such manner as to hold it normally out of lock engagement with the handlebar. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the locking-cam arranged to engage one edge of the handle-bar instead of the side thereof. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken centrally through the sliding jaw and showing a different manner of pivoting the locking-cam, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a locking-cam.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the handle-bar of the wrench, upon the opposite end of which from the handle a jaw 2 is integrally formed. This jaw forms j the fixed jaw of the wrench, and in case the wrench is to be used only for nuts this jawis extended at right angles from only one edge of the handle-bar and projects from the opposite edge as a hammer-head portion, which is the customary arrangement. When, however, the Wrench is made for use as a combinedv nut and pipe wrench, two fixed jaws 2 and 3 are formed on one end of the handle-bar. These two jaws extend from the opposite edges of the handle-bar, as shown in Fig. 1, and the face of the jaw that is to be used for pipe or round rods is serrated or formed into inclined teeth 4, arranged to cut into pipes or rods and hold to them. The sides of the handlebar are preferably concaved at their central portion, as shown at 5, which concaved portion extends to near the side edges of the handle-bar, preferably leaving a narrow flat'smooth strip 6 along each side edge of the sides of the handle-bar, the corners of which are rounded at the opposite end from the fixed jaw, so as to form a handle. On the handle-bar I slidably mount a jaw 7, which I preferably provide with an additional pipe or round-rod gripping jaw 8, although, if desired, the wrench may be made with only the nut-receiving jaw 7. The fixed jaw 2 is preferably provided with a toothed block 8, which is removably secured to the face of the fixed jaw, preferably by a dovetailed joint 9, which extends transversely across the face of the jaw. The slidable jaw is provided with an aperture 10. This aperture 10 fits loosely but closely on the handle-bar, and an extension is formed on the opposite end of the jaw 7. To the end of this extension is pivotally attached the toothed tilting jaw 8. In making the pivotal connection between the toothed jaw and the extension I preferably provide the end of the extension with a central ear 13, which projects from the center of the end of the extension and forms a flat square place 16 at the side of the ear farthest from the fixed jaw. This flat portion extends across the back portion of the top edge of the extension, and in the center of it a vertical hole 17 is drilled, in which a coiled spring 18 is placed. This Ill spring projects above the top edge of the hole. The toothed jaw is provided with depending ears 19, that fit over the ear of the extension and are pivotally secured to them by the pin 14. A flat place 14 is formed on the end of the toothed jaw back of the depending ear, which normally rests on the top of the spring, as it is formed to leave a little space between it and the fiat place on the top of the extension, and when the jaw is tilted back it compresses the spring until its flat portion rests on the flat top portion of the end of the extension, thus forming an abutment for the toothed jaw and enabling it to resist the strains brought upon it when gripping a pipe. The extension and the toothed jaw are also provided with a flat bearing portion in front of the ears on the end of the extension and in front of the depending ear on the toothed jaw, and the spring by hearing expansively up against the bottom of this jaw normally tilts it forward, so that it bears against the front edge of. the top of the extension and holds the toothed jaw straight with the face of the jaw 7; but when a pipe is inserted between the pivoted jaw and the opposite fixed jaw the pivoted jaw tilts back against the top of the extension and forms a tapering opening for the pipe between the jaws, as well as a resiliently-yielding jaw that will instantly become disengaged from the pipe when the strain on the wrench is released and it is moved to take a new hold.

The manner of adjusting and looking the slidingjawis as follows: As previously stated, the sliding jaw is provided with a rectangular opening 10, through which the handlebar passes, and a portion of the metal forming one of the side walls of this opening is cutaway, leaving an open space 20, which is of the same width as the ooncaves 5 in the handle-bar. On each side of this opening an ear 21 is formed integral with the jaw, and these cars are each provided with a hole through which a pin 22 is passed. This pin pivotally retains a locking-cam 23, which is preferably of the form illustrated in the various views and comprises a hub portion having a hole through which the pin 22 passes and a thumb portion which extends each side of the hub. The hub has a substantially semicircular face 24:, which is designed to contact with the concaved portion of the handle-bar, and this face is also curved transversely to correspond to the concaved recess and is formed slightly eccentric to the pivotal point of the cam, so that when the cam is pressed down, as shown in the several views, .its face 24. will bind upon the concaved face of the handle-bar and securely lock the jaw in any position to which it has been adjusted. In order that the jaw may be securely locked, the face 24 of the cam is provided with one or more teeth or serrations These teeth or serrations conform to the curves of the concaved portion of the handlebar, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and this construction insures that the whole area of the tooth or set-ration shall engage the handlebar even though the jaw might slide somewhat loosely thereon, whereas if the tooth had a flat face and engaged a flat portion of the handle-bar anylooseness of thejaw upon the handle-bar would cause the cam-face, with its teeth or serrations,to engage the handle-bar-unevenlyor at one corner, and thus permit the jaw to slip. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a wrench in which the sliding jaw is provided with a pair of locking-cams which are located on opposite sides of the jaws. This construction may be employed when a wrench is used for very heavy work; but for ordinary use the single cam will be found sufficient. If it should be deemed desirable to retain the cam in position to lightly engage the handle-bar, so that the jaw will not slide thereon, and thus become disengaged therefrom, a spring 26 may be fastened to the jaw, as shown in Fig. 4, beneath the forward end of the thumb-piece of the cam, so that its free end will bear against the under side of the forward end of the thumbpiece and cause the cam to engage the handle-bar, but only tightly enough to prevent the slipping of the jaw. In some cases it may be desirable to keep the cam normally out of engagement with the handle-bar, and in this event a spring 27 is secured to the under side of the rear end ofthe thumb-piece, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to bear upon the handle-bar and pre vent locking of the cam except when pressed down by the thumb of the operator.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the locking-cam arranged to engage the under edge of the handle-bar, and in this construction the concaved faces of the handle-bar maybe dispensed with,

and cars 28 are formed on the sliding jaw, so as to lie one on each side of the under edge of the handle-bar, and between these ears a locking-cam 29 is pivotally secured by a pin 30.- Instead of providing the cars 21 with holes, through which the pin 22 passes, the said ears may be provided with grooves 21 which are formed on the inner face of each ear. These grooves begin at the rear edge of the ear and curve in a forward and upward direction and then rearward, so as to form a bearing-point 21 Thelocking-cam in this case may be provided with a pivot-pin, which is shorter than the pin employed for the other form of ear, or, if desired, the cam may be formed with short trunnions, and the cam is placed between the ears and its pin or trunnions slipped into the'groove 21 until they reach the bearing-point 21 when the cam will be held in pivotal engagement with the said ears.

The wrench herein described is simple, quickly adjusted, and may be more cheaply manufactured than wrenches in general use, as nuts, threads, and ratchet-teeth are dispensed with, and while I have illustrated the preferred form of construction I may modify the same in many particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wrench comprising a handle-bar, the sides of which are centrally concaved from end to end; a double-ended fixed jaw at one end of the handle-bar, having teeth on the operating-face of one of its ends; a doubleended sliding jaw mounted on the handlebar, one of whose ends is pivoted to the jaw so as to have a limited rocking movement and is provided with teeth which are oppositely pitched from those on the fixed jaw, and a locking-cam pivoted to the sliding jaw, having a contacting face which is eccentric to its pivotal point, and which is provided with one or more teeth or serrations; said cam being designed to engage the concaved portion of the handle-bar, and hold the sliding jaw in a fixed position, substantially as shown.

2. A wrench comprising a handle-bar, the sides of which are centrally concaved from end to end; a fixed jaw at one end of the handle-bar; a sliding jaw mounted on the handle-bar; a locking-cam pivotally mounted on the sliding jaw, above the concaved portion of the handle-bar, having a contacting face which is eccentric to its pivotal point, and is provided with one or more serrations which conform to the concavity of the handle-bar, said cam being designed to be locked against the concaved portion of the handle-bar and hold the sliding jaw in a fixed position; and a spring arranged between the sliding jaw, and the forward end of the locking-cam for normally holding said cam in a locked position, substantially as shown.

3. A wrench comprising a handle-bar having a fixed jaw at one end; said handle-bar being rectangular in cross-section and being provided on two of its opposite sides with central concavities which extend from end to end; a sliding jaw mounted on the handle-bar; and locking-cams pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the sliding jaw; each of said cams being provided with a serrated face which is eccentric to its pivotal point, and which conforms to the concavity of the handle-bar, said cams being designed to lock the sliding jaw in a fixed position, substantially as shown.

4.. The combination with a wrench comprising a handle-bar, the sides of which are centrally concaved from end to end; a fixed jaw upon one end of said handle-bar, and a slidingjaw mounted on said handle-bar; of a locking-cam pivoted to the sliding jaw having an eccentric serrated face which is curved transversely to conform to the concavity of the handle-bar, and projecting thumb portions by which the cam may be locked or unlocked, and a spring interposed between the forward end of the cam and the sliding jaw, by which the cam is caused to normally engage the concaved portion of the handle-bar, substantially as described.

5. In a wrench, the combination with a handie-bar, the sides of which are centrally concaved from end to end, and a double-ended fixed jaw upon one end of the handle-bar having teeth upon the operating-face of one of its ends; ofa double-ended sliding jaw mounted upon the handle-bar, one of whose ends is pivoted to the jaw so as to have a limited rocking movement which is controlled by a spring interposed between the jaw and the pivoted end, and is provided with teeth which are oppositely pitched from those on the fixed jaw, and a locking-cam pivoted to the sliding jaw having an eccentric serrated face which is curved transversely to conform to the concavity of the handle bar, and projecting thumb portions by which the cam may be locked or unlocked, and a spring interposed between the forward end of the cam and the sliding jaw by which the cam is caused normally to engage the concaved portion of the handle-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. A. MILLER.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, BESSIE THOMPSON. 

